Session Description:
Institutions often aim to “support” communities, yet well-intentioned efforts can unintentionally reinforce power imbalances by assuming that institutions know what communities need best. This session invites participants to rethink that approach. Grounded in equity-informed and community-engaged practice, this workshop explores how empowering communities can strengthen trust, improve impact, and reduce institutional blind spots. Participants will examine common assumptions embedded in institutional systems, reflect on how stories about expertise and legitimacy are constructed, and consider practical ways to shift from a service-delivery mindset toward one rooted in shared power and community self-determination. Drawing on real-world examples from campus and community-based work, the session offers concrete strategies for working with communities rather than for them, while still meeting institutional responsibilities around accountability and stewardship. This session is designed to be reflective, accessible, and practical. It does not require prior expertise in equity or community engagement and is relevant to staff across roles and units. The focus is not on prescribing one right model, but on inviting critical reflection and offering adaptable principles that participants can apply within their own areas of influence.
Learning Outcomes:
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Identify how institutional narratives about “support,” “expertise,” and “capacity” shape relationships with communities
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Understand why communities are best positioned to define their own needs and priorities
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Recognize the difference between transactional support and empowerment-based approaches
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Explore practical ways to redistribute resources, decision-making, and trust within institutional constraints
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Reflect on how your own roles can contribute to more equitable and community-driven practices
Session Structure:
Lecture-style presentation with optional Q&A
Presenters:
Pamela Braza Pitman (she/her), Senior Manager, Outreach, Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism (EDI-R)